In America, we love our sports. From little league to the pros, watching athletes compete is one of our favorite pastimes. But what about when the playing field isn’t level? What about when some sports are out of reach for kids from low-income families?
According to a recent study, this is exactly what’s happening. For many kids and young adults in the U.S., college sports are just out of reach, due to socioeconomic factors. Let’s see what’s going on.
Lower-income students quit sports at higher rates
A study by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play found that lower-income students are six times more likely to quit sports than their wealthier counterparts. One of the primary reasons for this is a lack of free time.
Low-income parents tend to have less free time to transport children to practices and games, which can cause them to drop out of sports. These families are less likely to own a car, which is necessary for reliable transportation in many communities in the U.S. In addition, children from low-income families are more likely to have responsibilities like caring for younger siblings or working a part-time job, which means they have less free time for sports.
High costs are a significant barrier
Obviously, cost is a huge factor that prevents low-income children from participating in sports. Many low-income families simply can’t afford to invest in their child’s athletic pursuits—the cost of equipment, registration fees, lessons, athletic camps, and travel and lodging for competition can be thousands of dollars per season. Even public schools may charge a fee for participating in sports, due to budget shortfalls. Altogether, this puts low-income children at an even greater disadvantage when competing against their wealthier peers.
As more public schools move toward “pay-to-play” fee structures, children from low-income families can’t keep up. The gap is widening. According to Project Play, as of 2020, about 43.2% of children from more affluent families—those earning $100,000 per year or more—participated in sports. Alternatively, only 23.6% of students from families earning $25,000 or less played sports.
College expectations and the cost of lofty goals
And then there are the college expectations. For many low-income students, simply getting into college is a lofty goal. Once they’re there, they may not have the same resources or opportunities as their wealthier peers. This can make it difficult to pursue a career in sports, even if they’re talented and dedicated athletes.
Another study by Ohio State University researchers found that students from more affluent backgrounds were more than three times as likely to go on to become collegiate athletes than students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Wealthier students can afford private club sports and training, while private schools and public schools in affluent communities tend to have better athletic facilities and to offer a broader range of sports programs. These schools also provide access to better academic programs that prepare students for higher education.
Even when support is available, many students and families from disadvantaged backgrounds are unfamiliar with navigating school systems to access support. Others simply don’t realize or believe such support exists, so they don’t seek it out.
Access and know-how are privileges
These disparities exist because access and knowledge are privileges. Wealthier families have the resources to invest in their child’s education and athletic pursuits. They also have the connections and knowledge to navigate the college admissions process. This gives affluent students a significant advantage over low-income students, who often don’t have the same opportunities or resources.
How to level the playing field
Despite these disparities, there are ways to level the playing field and make college sports accessible for all students. For example, there are nonprofit organizations that provide grants to help families cover the cost of youth sports, and others that offer free or reduced cost sports.
Another way is by increasing financial aid for student-athletes from low-income families. These initiatives can help make college sports more accessible and equitable for all students, regardless of their background or income level.
Yet another potential way to increase participation in college sports by disadvantaged students is to provide access to more sports at the high school level. For example, only 7% of the more than 2 million boys who play football, basketball, baseball, and hockey will go on to play at a collegiate level.
However, universities offer institutional support for student-athletes for a variety of less common sports, including rowing, tennis, water polo, and diving. If students are given access and training in these sports at a high school level, they may have greater opportunities for attending university on a sports scholarship.
Of course, the ultimate solution would be to ensure that all public schools—regardless if they serve a wealthy or poor community—receive adequate funding, so they can afford to maintain their athletic facilities and offer a robust sports program to their students for free.
Evening the playing field and making college sports accessible
College sports should be accessible to all students, regardless of their background or income level. By increasing access to resources and financial aid, beginning in elementary school and high school, we can help level the playing field and make college sports more equitable for all students.